/ 

PAIL 

SEIM. 


tiii: 


CLAIMS  OF  MISSIONS 


ON  THE 

LIBERALITY  OF  CHRISTIANS. 


A 

SERMON, 

PREACHED  IN'  BEHALF  OF  THE  FEMALE  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY 
OF  THE  METHODIST  EPISCOFAL  CHURCH  IN  ITHACA, 

August  4th,  1839. 

BY  REV.  J.  CROSS. 

PUBLISHED  AT  THE  REQUEST  AND  FOR  THE  BENEFIT  OF  THE 

SOCIETY'. 


ITHACA,  N.  Y., 

PRINTED  BY  A.  E.  BARNABY  AND  CO. 


1839. 


■t 


S E R >1  O N 


K Tj»kb  ye  from  among  you  an  offering  unto  ilie  Lord  ; he  that  is  of  a willing 

heart,  let  him  bring  it,  an  offering  of  the  Lord.”—  Ex.  xxxv,  v. 

God  commonly  effects  his  purposes  through  some  visible  agen- 
cy. This  method  of  operation  is  selected,  not  from  any  necessity 
on  His  part ; for  the  true  notion  of  omnipotence  is,  that  it  can  ac- 
complish its  own  pleasure,  either  with  means,  or  without : but 
Jehovah  “ has  still  wrought  by  means,  since  first  lie  made  the 
world  and  doubtless  for  wise  and  benevolent  ends,  which  can 
never  be  fully  known  to  mortals,  till  they  have  witnessed  the  in- 
cipient developements  of  eternity. 

Thus  in  building  the  tabernacle.  He  who  had  changed  the 
waters  of  the  Nile  to  blood,  and  divided  the  Red  Sea  before  His 
people,  manifestly  might  have  reared  for  Himself  a habitation,  in- 
dependently of  human  instrumentality  : but  He  chose,  in  His  sov- 
ereign pleasure,  that  all  Israel — priest  and  people — male  and  fe- 
male— should  be  “workers  together  with  Him”  in  this  sublime 
service.  And  mark  the  liberality,  the  promptness,  and  the  zeal,  with 
which  they  engaged  in  the  undertaking.  The  men  wrought  with 
their  hands;  the  skilful  women  spun  goat's  hair  ; the  elders  and 
officers  gave  up  their  precious  jewels  ; all  who  were  wise-hearted 
in  Israsl  labored  to  erect  the  building  ; and  every  individual  felt  it 
a privilege  and  an  honor,  to  be  able  to  present  something  toward 
the  holy  place.  No  one  was  coerced  ; “their  hearts  stirred  them 
up.  their  spirits  made  them  willing  each  gladly  contributed  his 
portion,  and  “brought  a free-will  offering  unto  the  Lord  and  so 
great  was  their  zeal,  that  Moses  was  under  the  necessity  of  making 
a proclamation,  to  check  the  super-abundance  of  their  munificenee. 

Christians,  here  is  your  example.  The  Jewish  dispensation  has 
passed  away,  and  the  shadow  has  given  place  to  the  substance. 
The  Christian  church  is  pre-eminently  “God’s  building” — the  hab- 
itation of  the  “Holy  One  of  Israel,”  pre-figured  by  that  which 


4 


Moses  erected — the  tabernacle  of  the  “ belter  covenant,”  vocal 
with  the  anthems  of  the  living  cherubim,  tilled  with  the  glory  of 
the  incarnate  Shekinah,  and  open  alike  to  gentile  and  to  jew — not, 
like  the  former,  to  be  taken  down  and  carried  about  in  the  wilder- 
ness, but  to  remain  stationary  and  permanent  through  all  time — 
into  which  the  nations  shall  press,  through  the  blood  of  one  suffi- 
cient sacrifice  ; every  man  a priest,  entering  the  “most  holy  place” 
with  the  incense  of  prayer  and  song.  The  building  was  long 
since  begun.  Eighteen  centuries  ago,  the  “ prophet  like  unto  Mo- 
ses” came  down  from  heaven,  to  lay  its  foundations,  deep  and  broad 
and  strong,  and  of  surpassing  glory.  Then  He  ascended  up  on 
high,  leaving  twelve  apostles — “ wise  master  builders” — to  super- 
intend the  work,  and  a vast  number  of  disciples  to  assist  in  its 
execution.  They  wrought,  like  the  re-builders  of  desolated  Jeru- 
salem, every  man  with  his  weapon  by  his  side.  They  stood  upon 
the  “chief  corner  stone”  laid  by  Jehovah,  and  “built  thereon  gold, 
silver,  precious  stones  and  their  work  was  tried  by  fire  and 
flood,  but  “it  fell  not,  for  it  was  founded  upon  a rock.”  The  gates 
of  hell  could  not  prevail  against  it ; and  the  storm  that  howled 
around  it,  only  brought  materials  for  the  edifice  ; and  the  ocean 
that  rushed  upon  it,  cast  up  a thousand  gems  for  its  decoration  ; 
and  the  apostles  had  scarcely  fallen  asleep,  when  “the  mountain  of 
the  Lord’s  house  was  exalted  above  the  tops  of  the  hills,  and  the 
kings  of  the  earth  brought  their  treasures  into  it.”  And  now,  “the 
habitation  of  God  is  with  men,”  and  He  is  calling  upon  Christians 
to  come,  in  the  strength  of  their  united  piety  and  concentrated  be- 
nevolence, to  increase  the  glory  of  His  tabernacle — to  enlarge  its 
dimensions,  and  spread  out  its  curtains,  till  its  canopy  shall  cover 
tho  world.  “Ye  men  of  Israel,  help!”  Here  is  work  for  all. 
None  are  uninterested,  and  none  should  be  idle.  Ministers  of  the 
gospel,  and  private  members  of  the  church,  and  woman  with  all 
her  sympathies,  and  childhood  with  all  its  tenderness,  may  here 
find  enough  to  employ  their  hands  and  their  hearts — enough  suited 
to  their  respective  capacities,  and  congenial  with  their  peculiar 
affections  : and  if  Christians  would  unitedly  put  forth  their  efforts  to 
extend  and  beautify  the  place  of  Jehovah’s  glory,  they  would  soon 
see  “ the  ransomed  of  the  Lord,  coming  to  Zion  with  songs,  and 
everlasting  joy  upon  their  heads" — the  brawny  slave,  the  red  man 


of  the  forest,  the  savage  tribes  of  Africa,  the  frozen  children  ol 
the  pole,  flocking  to  ••  the  true  tabernacle,  which  the  Lord  pitched, 
and  not  men.” 

It  is  not  the  duty  of  every  Christian,  personally  to  •carry  the 
gospel  to  the  heathen.  Many  could  not  go,  if  they  would  ; and 
many  would  not  succeed  in  the  effort,  should  they  embark  in  the 
enterprise.  Hut  all  are  obligated  to  do  something  in  the  cause  of 
missions  : and  the  most  direct  method  of  rendering  any  efficient 
aid,  is  by  consecrating  to  this  object  a portion  of  your  earthly  sub- 
stance. We  shall  therefore  attempt  to  advocate  the  claims  of 
God  and  a perishing  world  upon  the  liberality  of  Christians  ; and 
bv  exhibiting  these  claims  as  the  claims  of  justice,  and  the  claims 
of  gratitude,  and  the  claims  of  religion,  and  the  claims  of  interest, 
and  the  claims  of  benevolence,  we  shall  urge  the  exhortation — 
“ Take  ye  from  among  you  an  offering  unto  the  Lord  ; he  that  is 
of  a willing  heart,  let  him  bring  it,  an  offering  of  the  Lord.” 

The  c/aijns  of  the  cause  of  missions  are  the  claims  of  Justice. 
There  is  but  one  independent  being,  the  source  of  existence  and 
of  blessing  to  the  universe.  All  creatures,  terrestial  and  celestial, 
hang  upon  Deity  ; worm  and  man  and  angel  receiving  perpetual 
supplies  from  the  same  inexhaustible  fountain,  and  every  tenant  of 
every  system  appealing  continually  to  the  common  Parent  to  pre- 
serve it  from  extinction.  There  is  not  the  order  of  creatures,  ma- 
terial or  immaterial,  that  stands  not  every  instant  indebted  for 
everv  thing  to  God.  There  is  not  the  order  of  creatures — how- 
ever  rare  its  endowments — however  majestic  its  possessions — that 
could  dispense  for  one  moment  with  communications  from  the 
fullness  of  the  Almighty,  or  be  thrown  for  one  moment  upon  its 
own  resources  without  immediate  destruction.  And  if  unfhllen 
spirits,  moving  in  their  power  and  their  purity,  owe  every  thing 
to  Jehovah  ; what  are  the  obligations  of  a creature  who  cannot 
expect  a single  breath  of  air,  nor  a single  ray  of  light,  nor  a sin- 
gle particle  of  food,  only  on  the  ground  of  a new  and  special  ar- 
rangement which  Heaven  has  made  for  the  the  fallen — a creature 
whose  every  possession  is  stamped  with  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and 
sprinkled  with  the  blood  to  which  Divinity  gave  preciousness  ! 


6 ‘ 

Lft  me  appeal  to  every  hearer.  “ What  hast  thou,  tliut  thou 
didst  not  receive  ?”  “ The  earth  is  the  Lord’s,  and  the  fullness 
thereof."  “The  gold  and  the  silver  are  His,”  and  the  “cattle  up- 
on a thousand  hills.”  He  created  them  at  first,  and  therefore  has 
a prior  and  supreme  property  in  them.  He  continues  them  in  ex- 
istence, and  is  thus  constantly  asserting  His  original  right,  and  es- 
tablishing a new  claim  to  dominion  over  them.  “ It  is  the  Lord, 
that  giveth  thee  power  to  get  wealth.”  Whatever  you  have  is 
loaned  by  Him,  not  alienated  from  Him — deposited  with  'you  as 
its  steward,  not  vested  in  you  as  its  master.  Jehovah  holds  you 
accountable  for  its  improvement ; and  requires  you,  by  its  use,  to 
glorify  God,  and  benefit  mankind,  as  far  as  is  compatible  with  the 
measure  of  your  trust,  and  the  period  for  which  you  may  retain 
it.  The  steward  may  fancy  that  his  lord  is  absent,  and  unbelief 
may  whisper  that  he  will  never  return,  and  the  unfaithful  servant 
may  burn  the  writings  and  forget  the  terms  of  the  commission ; 
but  the  master  is  constantly  keeping  a strict  account,  and  the  dread 
day  of  reckoning  must  inevitably  come,  and  it  shall  soon  be  said 
to  every  one  of  us, — “give  an  account  of  thy  stewardship,  for 
thou  mayest  be  no  longer  steward.” 

If,  then,  our  wealth  belongs  to  another,  shall  we  withhold  from 
Him  His  own  ? Shall  we  “ rob  God,”  by  appropriating  solely  to 
our  own  gratification  what  ought  to  be  devoted  to  the  Divine  glo- 
ry ? Yet  many  refuse  even  a small  portion  of  the  intci'est  to  Him 
who  has  loaned  them  the  principal.  Will  Jehovah  suffer  this 
with  impunity  1 Will  they  not  be  found  guilty  of  sacrilege,  when 
He  comes  to  “ require  His  own  with  usury  ?”  Then  hasten  to  ac- 
knowledge His  right ! Place  all  you  possess  at  His  feet ; dedi- 
cate it  to  His  service,  and  inscribe  it  with  His  name  ! “ Take  ye 
from  among  you  an  offering  unto  the  Lord  ; he  that  is  of  a willing 
heart,  let  him  bring  it,  an  offering  of  the  Lord.” 

The  claims  of  Lite  cause  of  jnissions  are  the  claims  of  Grati- 
tude. Is  a child  indebted  to  an  affectionate  parent  ? Think  of 
the  kindness  and  condescension  of  your  Heavenly  Father.  He 
has  placed  you  in  a world  that  is  full  of  His  goodness — the  trea- 
sury of  the  material  universe.  The  fulness  of  the  ocean,  the  am- 
plitude of  the  atmosphere,  the  plenitude  of  the  solar  light,  com- 


bine  to  attest  the  infinite  exuberance  of'  his  bounty,  and  rebuke  the 
guilty  covetousness  of  his  creatures.  What  shall  you  rentier  to  a 
benefactor  who  “daily  loadeth  you  with  his  benefits,”  and  “ crown* 
rth  you  with  loving  kindnesses  and  tender  mercies  ?” 

But  why  tarry  we  to  admire  the  wonders  of  God’s  creative 
goodness  and  providential  care  ? The  universe  is  crowded  with 
proofs  of  His  beneficence  ; but  there  is  one  proof  which  infinitely 
transcends  them  all.  “God  so  loved  the  world,  that  lie  gave  His 
son”  for  its  redemption.  “ Herein  is  love” — love  into  whose  mys- 
tery the  adoring  angels  cannot  penetrate!  “God  so  loved  the 
world” — we  cannot  tell  how  much  ; it  is  an  ocean  which  we  have 
no  line  to  fathom,  a sum  which  we  have  no  arithmetic  to  com- 
pute : but  He  “ so  loved  the  world  that  He  gave  His  only  begot- 
ten son  ;”  and  with  His  son,  He  has  “freely  given  us  all  things 
and  with  His  son,  he  offers  us  Himself.  “ Unspeakable  gift !” — 
Enumerate  His  perfections  ; recollect  His  ineffable  attributes  ; 
think  of  the  splendors  of  His  throne,  the  vastness  of  His  dominion, 
the  angelic  orders  of  His  Kingdom,  the  eternal  ocean  of  felicity 
reserved  for  His  people.  Meditate  on  this  amazing  goodness,  till 
your  hearts  grow  too  large  for  earth : reach  after  these  proffered 
riches,  till  the  world  shall  full  forgotten  from  your  grasp.  “ How 
much  owest  thou  unto  my  Lord  ?”  He  who  for  your  sake  gave 
His  son,  asks  you  for  His  sake  to  give  your  money  ; lie  who 
poured  forth  His  fulness  into  the  impoverished  treasury  of  hu- 
manity, requires  you  to  pour  forth  the  streams  of  your  gratitude 
into  the  broad  channel  of  benevolence.  Is  thare  any  proportion 
between  a Deity  possessed,  and  all  the  treasures  of  time  ? yet 
He  condescends  to  regard  the  smallest  fraction  of  your  earthly 
substance  as  an  expression  of  gratitude  for  the  gift. 

Gratitude  to  Christ,  as  well  as  gratitude  to  the  Father,  should 
produce  in  us  a spirit  of  liberality.  Christ  is  man’s  best  friend, — 
“ He  loved  us,  and  gave  Himself  for  us.”  He  redeemed  us  by 
His  precious  blood — 

“ A price  all  price  beyond  !” 

All  your  blessings  are  purchased  blessings.  Will  you  refuse  to 
glorify  Him  in  their  use  ? Can  you  behold  such  a friend  hunger- 
ing and  thirsting  at  your  gate,  and  not  put  forth  a hand  to  his  re- 


8 


lief?  If  you  are  disposed  to  inquire, — “ Lord,  when  saw  we  thee 
in  want,  and  neglected  to  minister  to  thy  comfort?”  behold  Him 
suffering  in  His  slighted  cause — behold  Him  languishing  in  the 
privations  and  afflictions  of  His  ministers  among  the  heathen — 
behold  him  perishing  in  the  purchase  of  His  blood,  who,  in  Africa 
and  India  and  Oregon,  are  living  without  God.  and  dying  without 
hope  ! and  hear  Him  say, — “Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  not  to 
these,  ye  have  done  it  not  to  me  !”  Should  one  of  the  veterans  of 
the  American  revolution  visit  your  door  for  a cup  of  water  and  a 
morsel  of  bread,  and  exhibit  the  wounds  he  won  in  fighting  for 
your  freedom  from  the  yoke  of  a foreign  power,  who  of  you  would 
suffer  him  to  plead  in  vain  ? who  of  you  would  not  be  more 
than  the  good  Samaritan  to  the  venerable  stranger  ? And  shall 
the  great  “captain  of  your  salvation,”  who  met  the  combined  le- 
gions of  “ the  power  of  darkness,”  and  fell  weltering  in  His  gore 
in  the  fierce  struggle  for  your  salvation — shall  He  stand  at  your 
threshhold,  a weeping  wounded  beggar,  unpittied  and  unsupplied, 
“ till  His  head  is  wet  with  the  dew,  and  His  locks  with  the  drops 
of  the  night  ?”  “ Ye  know  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ; 
that,  though  He  was  rich,  yet  for  your  sake  He  became  poor,  that 
you  through  His  poverty  might  be  rich.”  Ye  know  the  elevation 
from  which  He  stooped — the  depth  to  which  He  descended.  Ye 
know  for  whom  He  came  into  the  world,  and  wept  His  way  from 
Bethlehem  to  Calvary.  Ye  know  the  grand  design  of  His  sacri- 
ees  and  His  sufferings — to  rescue  the  perishing — to  raise  the 
dwellers  on  earth  to  habitations  in  heaven.  “Ye  know  the  grace 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ” — it  is  the  wonder  of  three  worlds — it 
is  the  theme  of  the  universe.  Shall  it  produce  no  emotions  in 
your  hearts  ? Will  you  withhold  from  Him  any  thing  that  you 
possess  ? He  sacrificed  all  for  you — can  you  sacrifice  nothing 
for  Him  ? He  gave  Himself  for  your  redemption — can  you 
not  give  your  property  for  His  glory  l Go,  stand  by  the  “ man 
of  sorrow”  in  the  garden — go,  listen  to  His  death  shriek  from  the 
cross  ! and  say,  will  you  requite  such  grace  with  parsimony  ? will 
you  set  a price  upon  his  blood  ? Had  you  all  the  world  in  your 
possession — did  you  combine  in  your  person  all  the  excellencies 
of  a million  of  angels,  His  love  would  deserve  the  eternal  devotion 
of  the  whole ! and  will  you  refuse  to  contribute  a small  portion 


0 


of  your  earthly  substance,  to  diffuse  His  gospel,  and  glorify  llis 
grace  ? Oh,  man,  is  this  thy  kindness  to  thy  friend  ? He  is  now- 
saving  to  everv  one  of  you — “ Lovest  thou  me  more  than  thy  gold 
and  thy  silver?  then  consecrate  thv  gold  to  my  cause,  and  thy 
silver  to  the  salvation  of  the  world!”  Let  your  gratitude  yield  a 
liberal  response.  “ Take  ye  from  among  you  an  offering  unto  the 
Lord  ; he  that  is  of  a willing  heart,  let  him  bring  it,  an  offering 
of  the  Lord.” 

The  claims  of  the  cause  of  missions  are  the  claims  of  Reli- 
gion. The  spirit  of  liberality  is  the  legitimate  offspring  of  the 
Gospel.  Christianity,  wherever  it  is  received,  has  a natural  ten- 
dency to  open  and  expand  the  heart.  The  real  Christian  is  like 
the  Nile,  overflowing  its  banks,  and  leaving  a rich  deposite  on  the 
neighboring  lands.  When  the  religion  of  Jesus  existed  in  its  great- 
est simplicity  and  purity,  “ the  multitude  of  them  that  believed  were 
of  one  heart,  and  one  soul : neither  said  any  of  them  that  aught  of 
the  things  which  he  possessed  was  his  own,  but  they  had  all  things 
common.”  They  “ looked  not  every  man  on  his  own  things,  but 
every  man  also  on  the  things  of  others;”  and  “sought  not  their 
own  profit,  but  the  profit  of  many,  that  they  might  be  saved.” — 
They  imitated  to  the  utmost,  their  Master’s  diffusive  goodness. 
They  not  only  despised  their  worldly  interests,  and  relinquished 
their  individual  rights  to  property,  but  even  “ took  joyfully  the 
spoiling  of  their  goods,”  and  “ counted  not  their  own  lives  dear  to 
them.”  They  toiled  through  tears  and  tribulation,  night  and  da\r, 
to  gather  the  wanderers  into  the  fold  of  the  Great  Shepherd;  and 
reckoned  no  sacrifice  too  painful — no  sufferings  too  severe — no 
efforts  too  arduous — that  could  aid  them  in  the  accomplishment  of 
this  beloved  object.  You  could  not  have  convinced  them  that  they 
were  in  danger  of  being  too  liberal,  while  a single  individual  of 
the  human  race  remained  unsaved.  You  could  not  have  convin- 
ced them  that  they  had  any  interest  distinct  from  the  interest  of 
Christianity,  or  that  any  other  cause  had  claims  equal  to  those  of 
religion  upon  their  beneficence  and  zeal.  “ The  love  of  Christ 
constrained  them  .;”  glowing  and  circulating  in  their  souls,  like 
the  life  blood  in  their  veins.  They  brought  forth  their  wealth,  and 
presented  it  to  their  Lord  with  the  ardent  devotion  of  an  offering ; 


10 


and  if  they  labored,  working  with  their  hands  the  things  that  arc 
good it  was  only  that  they  might  have  the  more  to  lay  at  His 
feet.  The  most  enlarged  designs  were  too  small — the  most  cost- 
ly  sacrifices  too  cheap.  They  felt  as  if  they  must  go  forth  into 
some  boundless  field  of  beneficence — as  if  they  could  move  only 
in  a sphere  which  knows  no  circumference.  They  knew  that  the 
gospel  provision  was  co-extensivc  with  the  world’s  population; 
and  could  not  rest  till  all  should  be  sitting  with  them  at  the  ban- 
quet of  salvation.  Though  every  accession  to  their  number  in- 
creased their  joy,  they  felt  that  while  any  remained  unblest  their 
happiness  must  be  incomplete.  As  if  the  benevolent  command  of 
Jesus  was  still  sounding  in  their  ears,  they  burned  to  “ preach  the 
gospel  to  every  creature.”  Each  individual  was  a flaming  sacri- 
fice, offering  hitnself  up  in  the  fires  of  a self-consuming  zeal  for 
the  salvation  of  the  race.  Hence  the  secret  of  their  success, 
which  has  in  all  ages  been  a paradox  to  an  unbelieving  world  : 
multitudes  of  Jews  and  Gentiles  were  soon  taken  in  the  toils  of 
the  gospel  net,  the  Roman  empire  bowed  her  neck  to  the  yoke  of 
the  Gullilean  peasant,  and  the  church  exalted  her  glory  over  the 
dynasty  of  kings. 

Here  then  is  the  first  fundamental  law  of  Christianity,  leading 
to  the  purest  and  noblest  acts  of  beneficence  and  self-denial. — 
Search  the  records  of  antiquity — call  up  to  mind  the  greatest  phi- 
lanthropists and  patriots  that  ever  lived  ; and  see  if  you  can  find 
a disinterestedness  and  generosity  equal  to  that  which  glowed  in 
the  apostles  and  their  associates,  influenced  by  the  unsearchable 
riches  of  Christ.  This  principle  is  not  confined  to  any  particular 
period  of  the  world,  nor  any  particular  exigency  of  the  church  ; 
but  is  common  to  Christians  in  all  ages,  and  under  all  circumstan- 
ces. How  far  do  we  possess  the  same  spirit,  and  pursue  the  same 
practice  ? Do  you  claim  a relationship  to  the  first  disciples  ? do 
you  profess  to  have  descended  from  them  ? Then  be  consistent : 
cast  off  your  worldly  spirit,  and  take  up  their  fallen  mantle,  and  no 
longer  disgrace  their  excellent  name,  and  the  infinitely  dearer  name 
of  Jesus ! 

“ If  any  man  have  not  the  spirit  of  Christ,  he  is  none  of  His.” 
What  is  the  spirit  of  Christ  ? Pure  unbounded  benevolence.  He 
belonged  to  the  triumvirate  of  heaven  ; but  to  gratify  the  ineffa- 


il 


ble  yearnings  of  His  infinite  compassion.  He  abdicated  His  place 
in  the  government  of  the  universe,  “took  upon  Himself  the  form 
of  a servant,”  and  gave  His  whole  existence  to  the  unhappy  crea- 
tures lie  came  down  to  redeem:  and  for  their  sakes  He  welcom- 
ed each  indignity,  and  invited  each  pang  ; moved  bv  a self-consu- 
ming ardor  to  reacli  the  cross — a holy  impatience  to  be  baptized 
with  that  baptism  of  blood.  Who  admires  not  such  disinterested 
philanthropy?  “We  ought  to  walk  as  he  also  walked.”  The 
disposition  which  regards  exclusively  our  own  happiness  and  sal- 
vation, is  diametrically  opposed  to  the  religion  of  the  gospel.  Mr. 
Summerficld  once  remarked,  that  the  real  Christian  would  be  wil- 
ling to  travel  round  the  globe,  if  necessary,  for  the  salvation  of 
one  single  soul.  What  then  shall  we  say  of  those,  who  “live  in 
pleasure,  and  are  wanton” — who  “ nourish  their  hearts  as  in  a day 
of  slaughter,”  and  make  no  efforts  for  the  conversion  of  the  hea- 
then— who  sit  like  Dives  in  their  mansion,  “clothed  in  purple,  and 
faring  sumptuously ;”  while  the  cause  of  Christ  lies  like  Lazarus 
at  their  gate,  fed  only  with  the  “crumbs  that  fill  from  their  table” 
— who  consider  their  own  ease,  or  pleasure,  or  emolument,  as  ob- 
jects of  primary  importance ; and  after  they  have  gratified  all 
their  vain  desires,  and  pampered  all  their  foolish  appetites,  are 
willing  to  give  merely  a very  small  portion  of  the  surplus  to  the 
cause  of  missions  ; and  then  seem  to  feel  as  much  self-compla- 
cency in  having  bestowed  their  mite,  as  if  they  had  performed  an 
act  of  piety  for  which  nothing  less  than  heaven  would  be  an  ade- 
quate reward  ! Look  at  their  costly  apparel — their  expensive  fur- 
niture— their  general  conformity  to  the  world  ; and  say,  can  these 
be  the  disciples  of  Him,  whose  whole  life  was  one  unbroken  series 
of  benevolent  acts — one  constant  scene  of  suffering  and  self-de- 
nial, till  it  terminated  upon  the  cross? 

Alas ! thousands  profess  the  sacred  name  of  Christian,  whose 
hearts  never  expanded  to  the  warmth  of  charity — who  shrink  in- 
stinctively from  the  most  distant  prospect  of  sacrifice.  They 
seem  to  consider  the  example  of  Christ  as  intended  only  for  ad- 
miration, and  not  for  imitation.  They  are  like  the  Dead  Sea — al- 
ways receiving,  and  never  imparting.  They  manifestly  act  on 
the  principle  of  parting  with  as  little  as  possible,  and  acquiring  all 
they  can.  What  care  they  for  the  souls  of  the  heathen  ? In  the 


12 


midst  of  a famishing  race,  they  would  establish  a’monopoly  of  the 
bread  of  life.  Instead  of  communicating  to  others  the  revelation 
of  “ life  and  immortality,”  they  would  press  the  precious  boon  to 
their  bosoms  in  their  selfishness  and  their  solitude,  and  steal  to  hea- 
ven alone.  If  “ by  their  fruits  ye  may  know  them,”  they  would  have 
the  Great  Shepherd  neglect  the  “ ninety  and  nine”  scattered  and 
perilled  upon  the  mountains,  to  attend  to  the  one  folded  sheep — 
they  would  arrest  the  “ mighty  angel,  flying  through  the  midst  of 
heaven,  having  the  everlasting  gospel  to  preach  to  them  that  dwell 
on  the  earth and  confine  him  within  the  circle  of  their  own  con- 
tracted horizon.  And  thus  they  perpetually  defraud  God  of  His 
proper  glory,  the  church  of  her  promised  prosperity,  and  the  world 
of  its  purchased  redemption. 

And  if  these  are  guilty,  alas  for  those  who,  rather  than  part 
with  a little  of  their  money,  would  have  you  call  home  your  mis- 
sionaries, and  break  up  the  institutions  of  chrristian  benevolence, 
and  stop  the  whole  machinery  set  in  motion  for  the  conversion  of 
the  world!  And  are  there  none  of  this  description  ? Verily,  we 
have  known  men,  who  would  at  any  time  betray  Christianity  for 
“ thirty  pieces  of  silver.”  We  have  known  men,  constantly  at 
war  with  the  missionary  enterprise  ; whose  presence  in  a charita- 
ble association  is  like  an  iceberg,  freezing  the  very  atmosphere,  and 
repressing  the  warm  current  of  benevolence.  They  “ seek  their  own, 
and  not  the  things  which  are  Jesus  Christ’s.”  It  is  scarcely  an 
hyperbole, — “ Their  life  is  one  long  sigh  for  wealth;  they  would 
coin  their  heart’s  blood  into  gold  ; they  would  sell  their  souls  for 
gain  !”  To  secure  a little  shining  dust,  they  neglect  every  thing 
else ; — 

Throw  up  their  interest  in  both  worlds, 

First  starved  in  this,  then  damned  in  that  to  come.'" 

Could  they  possibly  share  the  future  residence  of  the  just,  even 
before  the  throne  of  God,  they  would  resemble  Milton’s  descrip- 
tion of  Mammon  in  the  celestial  Jerusalem ; — 

“ With  looks  and  thoughts 
Forever  downward  bent,  admiring  more 
The  riches  of  heaven’s  pavement — trodden  gold— 

Than  aught  divine  or  holy  else  enjoyed 
In  vision  beatific!" 


13 


These  never  felt  the  mighty  promptings  of  the  Christian  spirit. — 
They  “ have  no  part  in  David,  nor  inheritance  in  the  Son  of  Jesse.” 
“ Come  out  from  among  them,  and  be  ye  separate,  saith  the  Lord.” 
Distinguish  yourselves  as  the  followers  of  the  primitive  Christians. 
“ Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus.”  “ Take 
ye  from  among  you  an  offering  unto  the  Lord ; he  that  is  of  a 
willing  heart,  let  him  bring  it,  an  offering  of  the  Lord.” 

The  claims  of  the  cause  of  missions  are  the  claims  of  Inter- 
est. It  is  a common  error,  resulting  from  the  natural  selfishness 
of  the  human  heart, — that  what  we  devote  to  charitable  purposes 
is  enjoyed  solely  by  others — that  the  giver  participates  not  in  the 
benefits  of  the  gift.  The  men  of  this  world  look  upon  every  thing 
bestowed  upon  the  missionary  enterprise,  as  lost — thrown  away, 
for  which  there  will  never  be  any  adequate  return.  But  the  first 
Christians  considered  their  own  welfare  as  inseperable  from  the 
prosperity  of  religion ; and  every  genuine  disciple  of  Jesus  feels 
himself  no  less  personally  interested  in  his  offering  than  those  who 
are  the  immediate  objects  of  his  charity. 

It  is  said  that  “The good  man  is  satisfied  from  himself and, cer- 
tainly. never  do  we  rise  above  ourselves  so  much  as  when  we  are 
conscious  of  having  contributed  to  the  happiness  of  others.  The  act 
of  beneficence  is  rewarded  by  the  pleasure  which  it  imparts — a 
pleasure  of  an  elevated  order,  and  too  pure — too  subtle — too  re- 
fined— to  be  enjoyed  by  vulgar  and  unregenerate  souls.  What 
were  the  feelings  of  the  great  German  astronomer,  when  he  made 
his  celebrated  discovery  \ “ Eighteen  months  ago,  I saw  the  first 

ray  of  light — three  months  ago,  I saw  the  day — a few  days  since, 
I saw  the  sun  himself,  of  most  admirable  beuuty  ! Nothing  can 
restrain  me  ! I yield  to  the  sacred  frenzy  ! I dare  ingenuously 
confess  that  1 have  stolen  the  golden  vessels  of  the  Egyptians,  and 
I will  build  of  them  a tabernacle  to  my  God  ! If  you  pardon  me, 
I rejoice — if  you  reproach  me  I can  endure  it ! The  die  is  thrown  ! 
I write  a book  to  be  read — whether  by  the  present  or  by  future 
generations — it  matters  not ! It  can  wait  for  a reader  a century, 
if  God  Himself  could  wait  six  thousand  years  for  an  observer  of 
His  works  !”  This  is  a most  remarkable  instance  of  pleasure  in 
intellectual  pursuits ; but  what,  compared  with  the  pleasures  of 


1? 


which  we  are  speaking?  Oh,  the  spirit  of  beneficence  lias  in 
it  a source  of  joy,  which,  if  they  but  knew  its  preciousness,  the 
rich  would  buy  with  all  their  substance,  and  kings  would  lay 
aside  their  sceptres  to  participate  ! Do  you  reply,  that  you  were 
nevei'  conscious  of  any  such  satisfaction  from  the  performance  of 
a beneficent  act  ? I answer,  probably  you  never  performed  a 
beneficent  act  from  proper  motives.  You  may  have  given,  but  it 
has  been  either  when  your  sensibility  was  "taken  by  surprise, 
or  when  a powerful  appeal  urged  you  to  the  duty,  or  when  the 
example  of  others  left  you  no  alternative',  or  when  your  van- 
ity was  tempted  by  the  prospect  of  being  published  as  a donor. 
True  benevolence  is  the  spontaneous  product  of  the  love  of  God 
in  the  heart — of  a clear  discovery  and  a lively  apprehension 
of  the  unspeakable  condescension  of  Christ ; and  despises,  alike, 
the  tax  which  is  reluctantly  paid  by  fear,  the  bribe  which  is  given 
to  silence  importunity,  the  sacrifice  which  is  offered  to  a vain  os- 
tentation, and  the  price  which  is  intended  to  purchase  a place  in 
the  kingdom  of  heaven.  What ! is  there  no  pleasure  in  the  reflec- 
tion that  we  are  properly  improving  the  gifts  of  Providence  ? no 
pleasure  in  the  testimony  of  a good  conscience  that  we  please 
God  ? no  pleasure  in  the  idea  of  sharing  the  joys  and  dividing  the 
sorrows  of  our  fellow  mortals?  no  pleasure  in  the  thought  of  dif- 
fusing happiness  around  us,  lighting  with  smiles  “the  human  face  di- 
vine,” and  causing  many  a desolate  heart  to  leap  and  many  a plain- 
tvie  tongue  to  singfor  joy.  Can  the  philanthropist  look  upon  theflow- 
ers  with  which  he  has  decked  this  moral  desert,  and  feel  no  satis- 
faction from  the  view  ? Oh,  “ it  is  more  blessed” — far  more  bles- 
sed— “to  give  than  to  receive  !”  It  is  like  the  blessedness  of  Deity, 
who  is  always  giving,  and  never  receives.  Taste  the  luxury  of 
doing  good,  and  you  will  regret  that  you  began  so  late.  Follow 
the  example  of  the  primitive  Christians, 'and  you  will  experience 
a delight  which  angels  might  rejoice  to  participate — you  will  open 
to  yourself  a source  of  joy  which  shall  continue  to  flow  when  the 
heavens  shall  be  no  more  ! 

Nor  is  this  all.  “ Liberality  is  the  surest  way  to  prosperity.” 
*•  Theie  is  that  scattereth,  and  yet  increaseth  wealth.”  The  munifi- 
cence of  Abraham  and  Jacob  and  Job  was  rewarded  with  an  en- 
largement of  their  riches;  and  the  Jews,  who  as  a nation  gave 


more  to  charitable  am!  religious  purposes  than  any  other  people, 
were  far  superior  to  all  others  in  the  amount  of  their  possessions. 
“ Honor  the  Lord  with  thv  substance,  so  shall  thy  barns  be  filled 
with  plenty,  and  thy  presses  shall  burst  out  with  new  wine.”  By  de- 
voting to  the  diffusion  of  the  gospel  a portion  of  the  gifts  of  Pro- 
vidence, we  “lend  our  money  to  the  Lord, and  that  which  we  give 
will  lie  pay  us  again.”  Thus  we  learn  to  trust  in  Him  who  feeds 
the  ravens,  and  clothes  the  lillies  of  the  field  ; and  as  the  principle  ot 
benevolence  is  fostered  by  the  practice,  every  other  moral  virtue  is 
proportionally  increased.  The  charitable  man,  therefore,  while  he 
is  doing  good  to  others, improves  his  own  character,  lie  rises  above 
the  contagion  of  selfishness,  that  disease  which  is  spreading  around 
him  in  those  who  regard  not  the  glory  of  God  ; and  spurning  what 
is  low  and  mean  and  sordid,  he  mingles  with  the  purest  and  lovli- 
cst  part  of  the  creation.  There  is  no  school  in  which  the  practice 
of  virtue  may  be  learned  with  greater  facility  than  in  the  exerci- 
ses of  charity.  Those  who  are  the  most  benevolent  are  making 
the  most  rapid  improvement  in  that  “holiness  without  which  no 
man  can  see  the  Lord.”  They  arc  separating  themselves  from 
the  world.  They  are  exercising  the  best  of  their  regenerate  fac- 
ulties, and  nerving  themselves  for  still  greater  activity  in  the  service 
of  Christ.  They  are  enlarging  their  spirits,  and  ennobling  their 
nature,  and  identifying  themselves  with  all  that  is  great  and  good 
and  happy  in  the  Universe.  They  are  a living  example  of  the  char- 
acter of  God,  who  is  always  opening  to  His  creatures  the  fountains 
of  blessedness  which  are  perpetually  springing  up  in  His  own  inef- 
fable nature.  They  imitate  Jesus,  that  immaculate  impersonation  of 
benevolence,  who  came  to  bless  mankind  by  turning  them  from 
their  iniquities — who  constantly  “went  about  doing  good,” 

“ Nor  paused  but  for  some  pitying  miracle,” 


and  found  no  resting  place  between  the  manger  and  the  cross. 
And  by  following  such  a pattern,  they  gnadually  receive  the  im- 
press of  His  celestial  attributes, prepare  themselves  for  the  employ- 
ments and  the  pleasures  of  angels,  and  secure  an  inheritance  in  that 
world  where  every  vessel  shall  be  filled  with  the  glories  of  im- 
mortality. 


16 


He  who  knows  best  whom  to  bless,  and  how  to  bless,  hath  said, 
“Blessed  are  the  merciful,  for  they  shall  obtain  mercy.”  Our  char- 
ities, as  well  as  our  prayers,  “come  up  for  a memorial  before  God.” 
Their  influence  on  our  happiness  is  not  bounded  by  time ; and  un- 
der the  dispensation  of  grace,  they  are  connected  with  an  eternal 
reward.  Hence  the  remark  of  Mr.  Wesley: — “ Though  deeds 
of  charity  cannot,  of  themselves,  secure  our  salvation;  yet  they 
afford  us  much  peace  of  mind,  and  sweeten  every  earthly  enjoy- 
ment ; and  the  lack  even  of  these  may  be  the  reason  of  God’s 
withholding  from  us  His  saving  grace  and  eternal  life.”  Benefi- 
cence is  the  “ art  of  embalming  our  property,  and  making  it  immor- 
tal.” It  is  sending  it  before  us  into  eternity — “ laying  up  in  store 
for  ourselves  a good  foundation  against  the  time  to  come.”  If  we 
leave  our  treasure  in  Sodom,  with  Sodom  it  must  be  consumed  ; 
but  bv  consecrating  it  to  charitable  purposes,  we  acquire  an  ever- 
lasting interest  in  it,  and  shall  never  cease  to  enjoy  the  benefits  of 
its  divine  employment — we  place  it  in  the  hands  of  Infinite  Faith- 
fulness for  preservation  and  improvement;  and  not  only  have  we 
the  assurance  that  “He  is  able  to  keep  that  which  we  have  com- 
mitted to  His  trust,”  but  His  word  is  our  unfailing  security  that 
He  will  repay  us  v\  ith  interest  in  the  great  day  of  settlement. — 
We  should  not,  therefore,  regard  it  as  a meritorious  act  in  us  to 
give,  but  we  should  consider  it  a vast  condescension  in  Christ  to 
receive  our  scanty  offerings.  Whatever  we  bestow,  He  employs 
not  merely  for  His  own  glory,  but  also  for  our  profit.  It  is  the 
means  by  which  He  carries  on  a successful  war  with  our  infernal 
foes ; and  every  farthing  will  go  to  the  enhancement  of  our  eter- 
nal leward.  It  is  so  much  treasure  laid  up  in  heaven — so  much 
seed  destined  to  grow  into  a harvest  of  immortal  blessedness. — 
Christ  shall  triumph  over  all  his  enemies,  and  obtain  the  empire  of 
the  universe;  and  those  who  have  from  proper  motives  aided  in 
the  glorious  contest — whether  by  personal  effort,  or  by  liberal 
contribution — shall  become  joint  heirs  with  Him  in  the  possession 
trf  the  kingdom,  and  share  in  the  wealth  and  the  honor  and  the 
felicity  of  the  throne.  The  cause  of  Jesus  is  the  only  safe  repos- 
itory of  your  earthly  substance — the  great  interest,  wherein  the 
rich  may  invest  their  abundance,  and  the  poor  deposite  their  mite, 
with  the  assurance  that  it  shall  be  secure  unto  the  judgment,  and 


17 


consianaly  augmenting  to  a vast  an J imperishable  possession. 
What  you  consecrate  here  you  save — what  you  withhold  you 
lose.  The  Christian  philanthropist  shall  “ receive  an  hundred  fold 
in  this  present  time,  and  in  the  world  to  come  life  everlasting.”  He 
is  wedding  liimself  to  infinite  excellence  and  beauty  and  wealth. 
He  is  giving  himself  to  God,  and  receiving  God  in  return;  so 
that  all  the  diving  resources  become  his — emphatically  and  forev- 
er his — his  to  the  utmost  possible  degree  in  which  he  can  enjoy 
them.  Wc  invite  you  to  partake  of  these  benefits.  Come  and 
share  the  purest  pleasure  in  the  universe  ! Come  and  secure  the 
largest  blessings  of  providence  and  of  grace ! Come  and  turn 
your  gold  and  silver  into  never  fading  crowns  upon  your  heads! 
“ Take  ye  from  among  you  an  offering  unto  the  Lord  ; he  that  is 
of  a willing  heart,  let  him  bring  it,  an  offering  of  the  Lord.” 

The  claims  of  the  cause  of  missions  arc  the  claims  o/*  Benevo- 
lence.— Among  Christians,  “no  man  liveth  to  himself.”  One 
primary  object  of  our  existence  is  the  benefit  of  others — an  object 
which  accords  with  the  design  of  universal  nature.  For  the  be- 
nefit of  others,  the  sun  dispenses  his  beams  ; for  the  benefit  of  oth- 
ers, the  clouds  distil  their  showers;  for  the  benefit  of  others,  the 
fields  put  forth  their  verdure  ; for  the  benefit  of  others,  the  flowers 
diffuse  their  fragrance  ; for  the  benefit  of  others,  the  earth  unlocks 
her  treasures.  “ For  the  benefit  of  others,” — is  the  grand  law  in- 
scribed by  the  hand  of  Jehovah  on  every  part  of  the  creation.  It 
is  read  in  the  silvery  stars — it  is  heard  in  the  whispering  winds — 
it  is  published  by  the  voice  of  ocean.  And  shall  we  alone,  of  all 
the  creatures  of  Omnipotence — shall  we  who  are  endued  with 
reason,  and  “ made  but  little  lower  than  the  angels” — shall  we  re- 
fuse to  recognize  this  principle  ? Shall  we,  by  living  only  to  our- 
selves, and  consuming  the  blessings  of  heaven  upon  our  lusts,  or 
consecrating  them  to  the  demon  of  avarice,  make  ourselves  an 
anomaly  in  the  universe — a barren  rock  in  a fertile  plain — a thor- 
ny bramble  in  a fruitful  field — the  very  grave  of  God’s  mercies — 
the  very  arabia  deserta  of  the  moral  world  ? Let  us  act  from  a 
nobler  impulse ! Let  us  assert  our  proper  dignity  among  the 
creatures  of  God ! Let  charity  “have  her  perfect  work,”  and 
prompt  you  to  deeds  of  liberality  in  behalf  of  the  heathen  ! 


18 


Notwithstanding  eighteen  centuries  have  rolled  away  since  the 
prelude  of  the  gospel  saluted  the  shepherds  of  Judea,  there  now 
remains  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  entire  population  of  our 
globe  who  have  never  heard  of  the  world’s  Restorer,  and  on- 
ly two  nations  are  efficiently  putting  forth  their  efforts  for  the 
salvation  of  the  rest.  “ Darkness  hath  covered  the  earth,  and 
gross  darkness”  is  deepening  and  accumulating  on  “ the  people 
yet  we  who  have  long  been  walking  in  the  light  of  the  Divine 
countenance,  have  refused  to  enlighten  them.  The  greater  part 
of  our  own  continent  “lieth  in  wickedness.”  More  than  half  of 
Europe  is  slumbering  beneath  the  blighting  influence  of  the  Ro- 
mish superstition.  The  vast  Asiatic  world,  with  the  exception  of 
a nominal  Christianity  in  the  north,  and  a few  Syrian  churches 
and  missionary  stations  twinkling  amid  the  gloom  in  the  south,  is 
emphatically  the  “ region  of  the  shadow  of  death.”  Only  a small 
part  of  Africa  has  been  redeemed  from  idolatry,  which  is  a “land 
of  Goshen,”  where  they  have  “light  in  their  dwellings;”  while 
over  the  rest  of  that  immense  continent,  broods  a moral  darkness, 
impervious  as  that  which  once  veiled  her  own  Egypt,  on  that 
prolonged  and  fearful  night  when  no  man  knew  his  brother. 

Such  is  the  condition  of  our  world.  The  command  of  Christ 
remains  unrepealed.  Christians,  you  know  what  it  is,  and  you 
have  the  means  for  carrying  it  extensively  into  effect.  God  has 
given  you  wealth,  that  you  may  give  others  the  gospel ; and  if 
the  gospel  is  the  bread  of  life  that  is  to  feed  a famishing  race — the 
sovereign  balm  that  is  to  heal  the  moral  maladies  which  infect  our 
nature — the  only  light  that  is  to  conduct  man  through  the  dark- 
ness of  time  to  a clime  of  immortal  blessedness  and  peace — can 
you  have  it,  and  the  power  of  imparting  it,  and  imparting  to  oth- 
ers w'ill  by  no  means  impoverish  yourselves,  and  still  leave  my- 
riads of  your  fellow  creatures  in  all  the  degradation  of  paganism 
— weltering  in  its  pollutions,  and  agonized  by  its  tortures  ? Where 
is  your  love  for  your  brethren,  if  you  can  withhold  your  hand, and 
suffer  them  to  perish  ? Where  is  your  claim  to  a spark  of  human 
feeling,  if,  after  having  yourselves  imbibed  refreshing  draughts 
from  the  cup  of  salvation,  you  refuse  to  hand  it  around  among 
the  dying  within  your  reach?  O,  if  you  are  men — if  you  arc 
Christians — look  abroad  upon  vast  neglected  multitudes  of  your 


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19 


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species,  whom  it  is  Godlike  to  love,  and  benevolence  to  bless;  und 
say,  will  you  still  conceal  your  talent  in  a napkin  ? will  you  still 
suffer  your  own  temporal  affairs — nay,  will  you  still  suffer  your 
own  soul’s  salvation  to  engross  the  whole  of  your  attention,  while 
the  sins  and  the  sorrows  of  a ruined'  race  are  thus  appealing  to 
your  sympathies?  If  this  is  innocence,  what  is  guilt?  If  this  is 
venial  negligence,  what  is  aggravated  criminality  ? 

It  is  estimated  that,  of  the  six  hundred  millions  who  are  desti- 
titute  of  the  gospel,  at  least  fifteen  millions  expire  every  year. — 
Thus,  since  the  commencement  of  the  Christian  era,  million  after 
million  has  plunged  into  eternity,  in  all  the  corruption  and  degra- 
dation of  idolatry.  How  rapidly  they  pass  away  ! 

“ And  on  [he  verge  of  lhat  unknown  abyss,” 

how  dark  and  dismal  arc  their  prospects  ! You  may  meet  the 
“ king  of  terrors”  without  dismay — you  have  a hope  that  triumphs 
over  the  grave;  and  sometimes  he  who  has  deferred  the  work  of 
preparation  till  the  very  hour  of  his  departure,  even  then  casts  his 
sinfid  soul  on  the  bosom  of  immortal  love,  and  becomes  imparadi- 
sed  in  the  very  jaws  of  death.  But  O,  how  different  with  the 
dying  pagan  ! How  sad  and  lonely  is  the  death-couch  over  which 
no  star-like  brightness  gleams — no  cherub  wings  are  hovering! — 
Behold  the  wasted  sufferer,  uncheercd  by  the  dawnings  of  immor- 
tality ! He  sees  no  Saviour  lifted  up  for  him  ; he  hears  no  whis- 
per in  his  soul — “to-day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in  Paradise  !”  No 
vivifying  influence  passes  over  his  feverish  brain;  no  holy  gust  of 
extatic  joy  fills  and  entrances  his  departing  spirit ; and  he  launch- 
es forth,  without  a helm  to  guide  or  a star  to  light  him,  on  his  re- 
turnless voyage  1 

The  Hindoos  believe  in  the  transmigration  of  souls.  They  say 
that,  after  death,  the  spirit  passes  into  the  body  of  some  other  ani- 
mal— a beast  or  a bird — a reptile  or  an  insect ; and  thus  from  one 
to  another,  till,  after  thousands  of  changes,  it  may  chance  to  be- 
come again  the  tenant  of  a human  frame.  A son  of  this  cheerless 
doctrine  was  wrestling  with  the  angel  of  death.  As  he  saw  him- 
self about  to  plunge  into  that  boundless  unknown,  he  cried  out — 
“ What  will  become  of  me?”  A Brahmin  who  stood  by  answer- 


20 


ed — “ You  will  go  into  another  body.’’  “And  where,”  said  the 
dying  man,  “ shall  I go  then?”  “ Into  another,”  replied  the  Brah- 
min. “ And  where  next  ?”  “ Why,  into  another,  and  after  that 

another,  and  so  on  through  thousands  of  millions.”  Darting  across 
the  whole  period,  as  if  it  were  but  a moment — “ But  where,”  he 
exclaimed,  “ where  shall  I go  last  of  all  ?”  Paganism  could  not 
answer;  and  he  expired  agonizing  under  the  awful  inquiry. 

This  is  but  one  example  of  a pagan  death-bed.  Thus  helpless 
and  hopeless,  million  after  million,  they  are  passing  to  the  world  of 
spirits.  Their  exit  is  emphatically  “ a leap  in  the  dark.”  Not  a 
ray  gleams  over  the  midnight  of  their  opening  graves,  nor  a whis- 
per of  consolation  steals  upon  their  spirits  from  out  the  fearful  a- 
byss.  While  we  are  discoursing  so  coolly'  of  their  wretched  con- 
dition, hundreds  are  languishing  in  the  last  stages  of  mortality, with 
no  correct  ideas  of  a future  life;  and  hundreds  more  are  daily  sa- 
crificed in  cruel  sports,  and  cannibal  feasts,  and  sanguinary  w-ars ; 
and  hundreds  more  are  bleeding  at  the  shrines  of  idols,  or  writhing 
on  the  funeral  pile  of  relatives,  or  struggling  for  life  in  the  sacred 
waters  of  the  Ganges.  Scores  have  yielded  up  their  trembling 
souls  into  the  hand;  of  an  “ Unknown  God,”  since  we  came  into 
this  house.  Several  are  dropping  into  eternity  with  every  sen- 
tence that  your  speaker  utters.  Behold  them  shivering  on  the 
brink  of  two  worlds  ! 0,  for  heaven’s  sake,  fly  to  their  rescue  ! 

You  have  the  power  to  pluck  them  from  perdition  ; God  hath  be- 
stowed on  you  the  gospel,  that  you  may  impart  it  to  them ; and 
if  you  neglect  to  fulfil  your  trust,  dare  you  meet  them  in  the  great 
assembly,  when  Jehovah  “ maketh  inquisition  for  blood!” 

You  possess  the  bible.  You  value  it  more  than  all  the  wealth 
of  the  world.  You  will  cling  to  it  as.  your  last  refuge  in 'the 
darkest  peril  of  life;  and  press  it  to  your  bosom  as  your  only 
hope  in  the  utmost  agony  of  death.  For  my  own  part,  I find  it 
difficult  to  select  terms  by'  which  to  express  my  estimation  of  its 
value. 

“ Though  mine  were  the  treasures  of  earth  and  sea, 

And  the  stars  themselves  had  flowers  for  me;” 

I should  esteem  them  all  as  dross  in  the  comparison.  And  will 
you  not  contribute  a few  dollars  to  furnish  others  with  a blessing 


21 


which  you  “ prize  above  all  price  ?”  \V  ill  vou  make  rio  efforts 
no  sacrifices — for  your  unfortunate  brethren  ? Their  souls  are  as 
precious  as  vonrs,  and  they  are  “ perishing  for  lack  of  knowledge” 

will  you  still  debar  them  from  the  only  fountain  whence  they 

can  derive  the  waters  of  salvation  ? O remember. — 

“ Who  hath  the  Bible  need  not  stray  ; 

But  he  who  hath,  and  will  not  give, 

That  heavenly  guide  to  all  that  live, 

Himself  shall  lose  the  way!” 

What  would  induce  you  to  forego  all  the  blessings  of  Christianity, 
to  become  the  wandering  Arab, or  the  degraded  Hottentot  1 What 
would  induce  you  to  forsake  the  “fountain  opened  in  the  house  of 
David  for  sin  and  uncleanness to  wash  away  your  guilt  in  the 
waters  of  the  Ganges  ? What  would  induce  you  to  exchange 
your  entire  condition  for  that  of  the  heathen — your  houses  of  re- 
ligious worship,  for  their  temples  of  abominable  idols — your  hope 
in  Christ,  your  home  in  heaven  ; for  the  shadowy  clysium  of  the 
indian,  or  the  sensual  paradise  of  the  Mahomedan  ? Then,  as 
you  prize  your  privileges — as  you  profess  to  love  your  neighbor 
as  yourself- — as  you  would  obey  the  sublime  injunction,  “ do  unto 
others  as  vc  would  they  should  do  unto  you” — contribute  of  your 
substance,  “ as  God  hath  given  ability,”  to  send  the  gospel  to  the 
perishing ! Send  them  the  gospel ; and  they  shall  be  “ turned 
from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  satan  unto  God.” 
Send  them  the  gospel ; and  the  foul  and  fiendish  heart,  where  in- 
fernal passions  riot  in  cannibal  vengeance,  shall  be  transformed  in- 
to a glowing  orb  of  love.  Send  them  the  gospel ; and  the  deba- 
sed and  groveling  mind,  that  gropes  in  a tenfold  midnight  of  igno- 
rance and  superstition,  shall  rise  to  its  appropriate  sphere  in  the 
great  scale  of  intelligence — its  original  altitude  in  the  communion 
of  its  Maker.  Send  them  the  gospel ; and  the  savage,  who  shel- 
ters himself  from  the  angry  tempest  by  burrowing  like  a brute  in 
the  earth,  shall  rear  for  his  residence  a palace  like  that  of  kings, 
whose  scenes  of  social  joy  and  domestic  love  shall  form  a little 
paradise ; and  where  accursed  shrines  stream  with  human  gore, 
and  blaze  with  human  unction,  the  heart’s  pure  incense  shall  go 
freshly  up  in  the  morning  sacrifice ; “ and  the  wilderness  and  the 


22 


solitary  place  shall  be  glad,  and  the  desert  shall  rejoice  and  blos- 
som as  the  rose.”  Have  you  no  offering  for  a work  of  such  bound- 
less sublimity  ? Will  you  give  less  to  Christ,  than  the  worldling 
to  his  pleasure,  or  the  pagan  to  his  idol,  or  the  papist  to  his  priest  ? 
Are  you  unwilling  to  reduce  your  expenditure — to  retrench  some 
of  your  superfluities — for  the  benefit  of  a cause  that  outweighs 
the  interests  of  a material  universe  ? “ Take  ye  from  among  you 

an  offering  unto  the  Lord  ; he  that  is  of  a whiling  heart,  let  him 
bring  it,  an  offering  of  the  Lord.” 

These  are  the  claims  of  missions.  Let  none  imagine  the  cause 
unworthy  of  their  notice.  It  is  the  cause  of  God ; and  wroe  to  the 
worm  of  earth  that  spurns  it  with  contempt,  and  refuscth  to  co- 
operate with  his  Maker!  “ Curse  ye  Meroz — curse  ye  bitterly 
the  inhabitants  thereof,  because  they  came  not  to  the  help  of  the 
Lord — to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty  1” 

And  let  not  the  wealthy  man,  and  the  professional  man,  and  the 
man  of  business,  think  the  cause  of  missions  beneath  the  dignity 
of  their  rank ; nor  excuse  themselves  from  a participation  in  its 
interests,  and  a liberal  contribution  to  its  support,  on  account  of 
the  numerous  and  pressing  duties  of  their  respective  stations. — 
Who  furnished  the  most  costly  articles  for  building  the  tabernacle  ? 
“ And  the  rulers  brought  onyx  stones,  and  stones  to  be  set  for  the 
ephod,  and  for  the  breast  plate  ; and  spices  and  oils,  for  the  light, 
and  for  the  annointing  oil,  and  for  the  sweet  incense.”  Here  is  an 
enterprise  of  far  greater  importance  ; and  justice,  and  gratitude, 
and  religion,  and  interest,  and  benevolence,  are  calling  loudly  for 
your  offering.  Will  you  press  your  earthly  treasures  to  your 
hearts,  and  leave  the  world  to  perish?  By  withholding,  you  abuse 
the  gifts  of  God,  and  expose  yourselves  to  the  charge  of  embez- 
zlement and  fraud.  “ He  that  loveth  silver,  shall  not  be  satisfied 
with  silver  ; nor  he  that  loveth  abundance,  with  increase.”  “ Trust 
not  in  uncertain  riches  they  are  shadowy  and  unsubstantial — 
the  mere  mirage  of  the  world’s  desert,  and  always  winged  for 
flight.  “ Trust  not  in  uncertain  riches;”  the  pursuit  of  them  is  of- 
ten attended  with  disappointment,  the  possession  of  them  with 
mortification,  and  the  separation  from  them  with  anguish.  “ Trust 
not  in  uncertain  riches,  but  in  the  living  God,  who  giveth  you 


23 


richly  all  things  to  enjoy.”  “Bo  rich  in  good  works — ready  to 
distribute — willing  to  communicate.”  “ With  such  sacrifices  God 
is  well  pleased.”  The  wealth  of  a Caesar,  or  a Croesus,  can  ne- 
ver secure  for  you  the  Divine  favor ; and  “ if  you  have  not  chari- 
ty, it  shall  profit  you  nothing.”  The  miser  of  time  must  be  the 
beggar  of  eternity.  Oh,  Mammon,  what  ruin  hast  thou  wrought 
anion"  the  children  of  men!  thou  hast  seared  a thousand  conscien- 

O 

ces,  and  kindled  a thousand  hells  on  earth,  and  sent  a thousand  souls 
to  the  unquenchable  fire ! 

Nor  let  the  other  sex,  whom  our  modern  refinement  has  doomed 
to  comparative  silence  and  inaction  in  the  church  of  Christ,  sup- 
pose that  they  “ have  no  part  nor  lot  in  the  matter.”  Was  the  tab- 
ernacle completed  without  theaid  of  the  Israelitish  women  ? or  did 
Moses  and  his  Master  refuse  their  co-operation  ? If  they  could 
not  work  in  wood,  and  stone,  and  iron,  and  brass;  they  could  spin, 
and  weave,  and  knit,  and  sew.  If  they  could  not  hew  the  pillars, 
they  could  prepare  the  curtains;  and  their  offering  was  accepted 
with  commendation,  for  it  was  presented  with  cheerfulness.  “And 
all  the  women  who  were  wise-hearted  did  spin  with  their  hands  ; 
and  brought  that  which  they  had  spun,  of  blue,  and  purple,  and 
scarlet,  and  fine  linen.”  Is  it  said  that  the  work  of  sustaining  the 
missionary  enterprise  does  not  properly  belong  to  ladies — that 
they  are  inadequate  to  its  importance?  We  answer: — Woman’s 
weakness  is  her  strength  ; the  peculiar  sympathies  of  her  nature 
fit  her  for  achievements  to  which  the  other  sex  might  aspire  in  vain ; 
and  prompted  by  piety  or  compassion,  no  work  is  too  vast  for  her 
to  accomplish — no  obstacle  or  enemy  too  formidable  for  her  to  en- 
counter and  overcome.  The  missionary  cause, moreover, is  Christian 
woman’s  appropriate  sphere  of  action, where  she  appears  in  all  her 
majesty  of  benevolence.  Is  she  amiable,  when  she  divides  her 
last  morsel  with  “ those  who  are  ready  to  perish” — when  she  seeks 
the  children  of  affliction,  and  binds  up  bleeding  hearts — when  she 
bends  like  a blessing  over  the  couch  of  sickness,  and  softens  the 
death-pillow  with  her  tears  ? how  much  more,  when  she  flies  to 
the  relief  of  the  sin-burdened  soul,  and  points  the  anguish-stricken 
penitent  to  the  “ Lamb  of  God,”  and  pours  the  glory  of  the  gos- 
pel upon  them  that  “ dwell  in  the  shadow  of  death  !”  “ I cannot 
speak  for  Christ,”  said  a martyr  on  his  way  to  the  stake,  “but  I 


can  die  for  Him;’’  and  you,  Christian  ladies,  may  not  be  able  to 
follow  your  sisters  to  the  “dark  places  of  the  earth,”  but  you  can 
give  your  influence  and  your  money  to  aid  them  in  the  enterprise. 
Perhaps  you  say — “ I am  poor,  and  have  but  little  to  bestow.” — 
But  “ the  Lord  loveth  a cheerful  giver,”  though  the  gift  be  small ; 
and  if  presented  with  suitable  feelings,  regards  the  mite  with  as 
much  complacency  as  the  million.  Jesus  once  “ sat  over  against 
the  treasury,  and  beheld  how  the  rich  cast  in  of  their  abundance 
unto  the  offerings  of  God;” — 

“ And  In,  amid  the  pompous  crowd 
Of  rich  admirets,  came  an  humble  form — 

A widow — meek  as  poverty  doth  make 
Her  children  : with  a look  of  sad  content, 

Her  mile  within  the  treasure-heap  she  threw  ; 

Then,  timidly  as  bashful  twilight,  stole 
From  out  the  temple;  but  her  lowly  gift 
Was  witnessed  by  an  eye,  whose  mercy  views 
In  motives  all  that  consecrates  a deed 
To  goodness;  so  He  blessed  the  widow’s  mite, 

Beyond  the  gifts  abounding  wealth  bestowed  !” 


And  now,  at  length,  let  us  have  an  exhibition  of  zeal  worthy  the 
church  of  Christ ! Let  Christians  bestir  themselves  like  angels, 
and  ministers  of  the  gospel  like  archangels  strong ! “ Awake, 
awake ! put  on  thy  strength,  O Zion ! put  on  thy  beautiful  gar- 
ments, O Jerusalem!”  What ! shall  we  slumber  while  the  world 
is  sinking?  Jehovah  has  delegated  to  the  church  His  moral  om- 
nipotence! It  is  in  her  power  to  carry  a golden  chain  around  the 
globe,  and  bind  it  fast  to  the  throne  of  God  ! Awake  to  your  work 
of  love  ! An  “ eternal  weight  of  glory”  is  before  you — “a  crown 
that  fadeth  not  away;”  and  the  testimony  of  the  past,  and  the  au- 
spicious signs  of  the  present,  and  the  promises  and  predictions  re- 
lative to  the  future,  rise  to  stimulate  you  to  action;  and  Jesus  is 
still  saying, — “Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to 
every  creature and  the  voices  of  all  heaven  are  urging  you  on ; 
and  myriads  of  perishing  heathen  are  calling  for  your  help;  and 
the  deep  wailings  of  eternity  are  cursing  your  delay  ! 


